Christ the King Church – Mahena

The Church of Christ the King in the diocese of Rathnapura is located on a beautiful hill-top at Mahena, Warakapola and Its only 57 km form the city of Colombo. Right behind the Church is a beautiful Calvary that attracts many Catholics in the county. During the season of Lent many faithful, from all over the country, pilgrim to this beautiful Calvary to commemorate the last lap of Jesus physical journey to mount Calvary. Special services to the faithful during the season of Lent is an effective additional ministry to the Blessed Sacrament Community that serves in the parish.

This mission station is consisted of about 115 Catholic families and It is a mixed community of faithful who speak Sinhala and Tamil languages. It also includes communities of people who work in rubber estates.

The Mahena, Warakapola Blessed Sacrament Community was established in 2014 as the fifth parish foundation of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation in Sri Lanka. After a brief period of initial study and “ad experimentum” since 2013, the community officially began its journey. The religious priests who have ministered to the community include Fr. C.A.G. Christopher SSS in 2013 for a couple of months, Fr. Anscar Wijerathne SSS from 2014 to 2019, Fr. Hashendra Perera SSS from 2019 to 2021, and Fr. Justin Chawkan SSS in 2021 and 2023. Throughout these years, the community has also been served by Frs. Chaminda Fernando SSS, Jude Fernando SSS, Joseph Pakkiam SSS, Louiston Fernando SSS, and Roger Fernando SSS.

Currently, Frs. Samantha Senanayake SSS and Joseph Packiam SSS work together to serve the parish community. Remaining faithful to the missions entrusted to them by their predecessors, both diocesan and religious, the SSS religious priests have endeavored to enhance the spiritual and material aspects of the parish. They have worked diligently to elevate the parish’s standards in various areas.

As a community, we express our gratitude to God for the abundant blessings He has bestowed upon the parish and the faithful who gather during the Lenten season to commemorate the Calvary. We acknowledge and appreciate the tireless efforts of the religious priests who have faithfully served and contributed to the growth and well-being of the Mahena, Warakapola Blessed Sacrament Community.

The Mission of the Blessed Sacrament Community: The Blessed Sacrament community works tirelessly to take every step possible to respond to the hungers of the human family with the riches of God’s love manifested in the Eucharist. The Blessed Sacrament Fathers make their presence effective by celebrating the Eucharist daily meaningfully and encouraging the faithful to encounter the Eucharistic Lord in prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament so that the faithful may grow in their communion with Eucharistic Lord.